Definition
MI is essentially the death of myocardial tissue
Causes
caused by an insufficiency of oxygen supply to the myocardium
It usually results from rupture of an atheromatous plaque in a coronary vessel
leading to thrombus formation, blocking the vessel and causing occlusion of the
vessel and myocardial ischaemia
Heart muscle begins to die within 20–40 minutes if blood flow is not restored
and necrosis is irreversible if the coronary vessel remains occluded for more
than 4–6 hours
Symptoms and warning signs
Central chest pain or sensations of severe pressure, fullness, squeezing or
discomfort lasting for more than a few minutes of increasing intensity radiating to the shoulders,neck, arms or jaw
not relieved by rest or cardiac medication
with any or all of the following
sweating or cool, clammy skin
skin pallor and/or bluish lips
shortness of breath
nausea or vomiting
dizziness or fainting
rapid or irregular pulse
anxiety
Emergency aid
Put patient into a half-sitting position, with head and shoulders supported (e.g
with cushions or pillows) and knees bent
Dial 999 for an ambulance
Help patients to use any angina medication they are carrying
If patient is fully conscious, give a 300 mg aspirin tablet to chew
Monitor breathing and pulse rate and be prepared to give mouth-to-mouth
ventilation and chest compressions if necessary
No comments:
Post a Comment